A car club or automotive enthusiast community is a group of people who share a common interest in motor vehicles. Car clubs are typically organized by enthusiasts around type of vehicle (e.g. Corvette, Mustang), brand (e.g. Jeep), or similar interest (e.g. off-roading). Traditional car clubs were off-line organizations, but automotive on-line communities have flourished on the internet.

Traditional Car Clubs

Historically, car clubs refer to off-line entities, typically organized as non-profits and run by volunteers (who were most often elected). Some clubs were large enough to be run as a paid business with salaried employees; in the 1960s, some were sponsored by car dealers.

Many car clubs charge membership fees in exchange for benefits, such as publications and events. The publications typically contain photographs, messages from other members, service and parts advice, items and vehicles wanted and/or for sale, and historical material of interest to the membership. Car clubs often host gatherings (called “meets“) which often also welcome interested non-members. Car clubs also may engage in other activities of various types, including races, cruising, shows, “mod” days when garage equipment and service tools are available for members to perform and assist each other with DIY work, or community service activities. Meets are basically a time for the club to hang out with one another and to talk about cars and do normal stuff, such as bowling, eating, movies, etc.

Additionally, some car clubs have a “prospecting” status, where prospective members of the club meet with established club members, to assess their suitability within the club. During this time, prospective members will help work on club cars, attend events, and sometimes perform tasks; such as helping to park cars at a show, or assisting with ticket sales, etc. Upon the completion of their prospect status, members will be “patched in,” whereupon they are considered full members of the club. In traditional car clubs in the USA, this is typically signified by the awarding of a jacket or t-shirt with the club’s name and logo on the back, and the awarding of a bronze/aluminium “drag plate,” to be hung on the member’s car, displaying their membership status and club name.

Many (if not most) traditional car clubs have now added online presences, although most of the content typically resides in a walled garden for members only. Most clubs have an online presence mainly through their car forums relevant to their car of interest. Some clubs also have their own website. They usually use the forums or their site to organize their meets and gatherings. For instance, before a big event, they would organize to see how many people are going, where to meet up, and how to caravan to their destination. Many car club members consider what they do, more than just a hobby, it is a lifestyle that they live by.

Internet Communities

The Internet accelerated the growth of participation as online communities attracted large numbers of members. The Internet encouraged and fostered the development of many clubs centered around specific vehicles, including niche makes and models.

Unlike traditional clubs, the content of most online communities are open to all for free. This has facilitated their growth, and made them a resource for potential owners or newbies. Larger online communities report registered members in the hundreds of thousands.

Most automotive communities were founded by individual enthusiasts/entrepreneurs. In 2006, Internet Brands began acquiring these types of websites and the company has become the largest operator of automotive communities in the world.

As with traditional car clubs, some Internet automotive communities sponsor or operate off-line meets. Many of the leading Internet communities feature active directories of regional meets.

Communities have also begun to form around digital media outlets such as YouTube Channels and Podcasts. Car enthusiasts are able to comment and share opinions with one another, allowing for an element of connection not found with other media variants. These platforms are being used by smaller studios and individuals to distribute content to a mass audience without the need of a large budget. Production value is often high given the technology available to amateurs in the forms of software, cameras, microphones, and other producing equipment.